Home and Garden Tour a win-win

The Real Homes and Gardens Tour is one of the Pohlen Foundation Trust’s biggest fundraising ventures and this year a whopping $22,000 was raised to go towards Pohlen Hospital’s New Wing Project.

Nine Matamata homeowners generously opened their homes and gardens.

Organisers Joce Hoebergen, Liz Atherton, Arlene Swap and Di Louch did a fabulous job of coordinating the tour.

Pohlen Foundation Trust chairwoman Lady Margaret Spring said the fact that once again the community has rallied together for Pohlen is wonderful and very much appreciated.

Homeowner Syd Workman said it was fantastic being involved in the Real Homes and Garden Tour.

‘‘It was very rewarding to share your house with people from town, as well as out of town.

‘‘It was great that every time a car pulled up you knew you were doing something for the town as far as Pohlen Hospital goes and helping to raise money for a great cause,’’ he said.

‘‘It was lovely to see people and to talk to the ones that had been to other homes before mine. It was a great experience ... it was great all round, really.’’

Homeowner Irene Cox was more than willing to open her home.

‘‘Everyone was lovely and the weather was great. I enjoyed the second day when we got to go around and see the other homes; they were all very different,’’ she said.

‘‘ We got to know each other through the meetings so it was really nice to see each other’s homes. It just finished it off really well.’’

Pohlen Foundation Trust secretary Judith Challis said there is an army of people who are responsible for overseeing the success of the event and each and every one of those people needed to be thanked.

She said community contributions included homeowners, sponsors, floral designers, interior designers, security staff, businesses who gave products as spot prizes and raffle prizes, security staff provided by community groups, people who bought a ticket and those who provided food for the workers on the day.

‘‘All costs were covered by sponsors and so ticket sales and raffle proceeds were profit.’’

Photo: KATRINA TANIRAU All for Pohlen: The Pohlen Foundation Trust is extremely grateful to the homeowners who opened their homes and gardens to be part of the Real Homes and Garden Tour.

On tour: Groups of people take a look through one of the homes on the Real Homes and Garden Tour. And the winner is: Below, from left, Liz Atherton, Di Louch, Lady Margaret Spring and Joce Hoebergen draw the raffle.